Bridge



C. .L. KELLER Feb. 14, 1933.

BRIDGE Filed Oct. 2l, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheell l C. L. KELLER Feb. 14, 1933.

BRIDGE Filed Oct. 2l, 1950 3 SheebS-Sheet 2 C. L.. KELLER Feb. 14, 1933.

BRIDGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 21 1930 Patented Feb. 14, 1933 CHARLES-L. KELLER, F CHICAGO,'ILLINOIS BRIDGE Application iled October 21, 1930. Serial No. 490,196. j

The present invention relates in general to bridges and more particularly to bridges of the bascule type.

Y One of the objects of the present invention is to adapt the principle of the arch to bascule construction.

Another object is to provide simple and efficient means for taking care of the stresses arising from expansion and contraction as a result of variation in temperature in the elements of which the bridge is constructed.

Another object is to provide mechanism for transferring the suspension points of the bridge in order to provide for a better utilization of the arch principle.

A further object is to provide means for transferring the load stresses into slight horizontal movements to eliminate whipping action.

There are other Aobjects of the invention which, together with the foregoing, vwill be described in the detailed specification that is to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part Y thereof.

The majority of bascule bridges in use heretofore have employed the cantilever principle. Bridges of this type are all subject to the objection that, on the transfer of load from one leaf of the bridge to the other, a whipping action is brought about that is very undesirable. By the utilization of the arch principle I have been able to eliminate this whipping action entirely and also to provide a convenient method which permits the stresses arising from temperature variation to be taken care of. It is difficult,when this arch principle is employed, to provide a con- Y venient arrangement for opening the bridge, and I have provided an arrangement for changing the points 0f suspension of the brdgeat the time it is opened so that my improved bridge may be opened in the same manner as the usual bascule type cantilever bridge.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application, Serial No. 121,789, filed July 12, 1926.

In practicing my invention, I provide a pair of bascule leaves that are adapted to rotate about a pivot mounted on a support that is permitted rto oscillate Within certain limits at certain times. When the bridge is to be opened, the support is heldrigidly in l. l

position and the opening of the leaves occurs around a pivot inthe support. When the bridge Vis closed, the supporting point of the leaves is changed from the first pivot to a pivot .at the base of the support-and slight oscillation of the ,support is permitted to i provide for stresses arising from temperature changes, as well as from the transfer of load from one leaf to the other. The transfer of these points of suspension, or pivot points, provides a more rigid arch construction and at the same time takes care of the stresses mentioned.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of one leaf of my improved bridge together with its operating mechanism;

F ig.v 2 is an enlarged elevation of the operating mechanism therefor and of. one of the supports;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line 3 3 o-f Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is another section along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 showing details of the anchor operating mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a detailed section taken .along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows. y

In the drawings, like reference characters apply to similar parts throughout.

The reference character l designates one leaf of my improved bridge which is constructed in any usual or well known manner from structural steel shapes. The leaf l is provided with a suitable counterweight 2 at its lower end and also with a locking mechanism comprising a pin 3. The lower end of the bridge is provided with two racks 4 for bringing about its rotation about a pvot or bearing 5 mounted in a support 6, rotatably carried in a base member 7 by bearings or trunnions 8 The base member is supported upon an abutment or base 9. l Supporting members 6 are provided with extensions l() of the shape shown, fitting into a recess '1li 1.39, suitable gear .trains comprising-gears 25,'726,

in the base and fastened attheir outer end through an' eye 12ftol anja-1161101 member 13 which is provided -with anj elongated open- ',ing 14 at itslowei` end into which is ttedan l* eccentrically shaped cam 15 mounted upon a z is` KAbonnected reducer `l18'toa small motor. 19.

latory movement of rtheextensionmember 10' ber'2i or 'toftakez care o and the. Support-z 6 -1 'filintniin p ivQtS ineen@ position,' and inthe otherp'osition ofthe cam topermit agfew inches fofi playinlthe anchor member '13itherebyfenab`ling the support, 1 6 to'move aboutthe' pivoti8 and bring about some oscillatory movement of the @extension member `10 infresponse; to internal stresses arising. fromgtemperaturefin the leaff'fmemf4 ff stressesaarislng from..

loads on. the bridge".

provide means for operatingithe leaf mem' bers- The spurwgears23 ;areada'pted to'be operated .by operatingmotors Q4 through Y ama'zaaoiand 31., i y

When the bridge is openedythe'motor 19 is rst OperatedtO'shit'the cam member 15 f so as'toten'sionthefanchor and ,prevent lany movement of thessupport 10 .and 'the' column 6. k.ThemotorsMarethen oper-atedto rotate.Vv

' .2. `In adevifceof the; class specified, a; pivotf f the pinins 2O and openthel'leaves 1 by'm'ove- 1 f3 servingto .4.0:

ZVhenthebridgelisl .closed the motorl19'1isl operated so as to releasethe cam `15,"permit- 'i 'fting sevralfinches of play in thek anchor members 13.A xflhe. closingof the' leaves `1. locks thetwo leaves on the vpin3'and brings about alateral `shiftingfof Vthein'emb'er 6 to aV slight extent -s'o that. it'is supportedatlthe-point 8.

l `the base'9;l yThe vlower trunnion 8 at all timesV The movement of the leaves 1 is1.suchl as Ato bring them.into. engagementfwith the stops 34. Thetwoleaves 1 thus form anarch Vstructure 'supported'at the -pin 3, members 34 Vandthetrunni'onsv 8; The anchor members Y 13,;being loose, permit this Vslight shifting; of

the member-'6. Any expansion or contraction :arising vfrom temperature changes permit further oscillatorymovement of thesupport 6 about .the trunnion- Sfand/consequently of the extension member,l 10i :fThat is asa resultof myinvention", 4I--futilize the principle, ofthe arch sothat the zlivel'oad at alltimes `is taken upon the lmembers '34 and; thence .to

also carries the ,deadloadthrough the column futili'zation of the archprnciple.

The operation ofijthe cam l15 1s such that the anchor 'member f` "113'f-is" :pla-ced' under tenision in oneposition so asto prevent any oscil@ y scibed. The 'shifting of the lsupport ofthe .Clfntnblesuppnrt Said Support Comprising a substantially vertical member havingjapiv; ntfni-iisiipner end; ien Snifihnidgn-inemben,

thentransferred tothe base through a, rigid 4 Y near the lower trunnionto secure a better support. Thereforemyinvention provides' Y Yfor the transfer of the live load to a point The a'nchors 13 are not Wholly releasedlin-v` ,order to maintain thebridge' wi-thin certain A limits ofrigidity atall'times.` Yfl'lhejimovement vofthe loadv from onevleaf of the bridge tot the other bringsaboutstresses which are f tal'i'encarefoffbyithescillatory movement of l the members Gland 10, in the manner Yde- ,.twofleaves 1 fromgthepivots tothe points oscillation whatsoever Lof the lcolumn 6 about anchors ...1S-are; tightened sothat threfis n0 cule type cantilever bridge. i;

iik While I vhave described la certain;

embodiment; 0f inyzinveninm I am were that runny Changes, .Variations and departures ley-.be mad-@..nnminglviihi thesnpe 'Ofmy invention, as Vset-.f forth in .the appended claims.

`I claims;k j; v1, In a device ofthe class specifled,'a piyotmounted bridge r member ,having an osg ya pivot'L at itslowei" end, .andan outwardly and upwardly extendingfmember for limiting L themovement ofY/saidjirstgmentioned pivot.; f

Y `ments of:the'fchordfracks4.counterweights ny nntdfbrdg-membe?'andfafswngng balance the leaves-.lfabout'the r y 1 havlngupper and lower pivotsandianex- .snppnni Saidsnpporbjcnmprisngfnl member tension connected thereto between'said'pivots,

said extension having means comprising a link andan abutment limiting movement 0f said-upperpivot.

bascule lift bridge i comprising` ,a swinging leaf, asupport uponl which said leaf isrotatably mounted; counterweightfor said; leaf, an extension for` saidlsupportyan sion and meansfor yreleasing said anchor.

4. 'A bascule lift SbridgeCQmprising, a

Swingin. lenta SnriiQit-iinonrhinh Snidlenlf isrotntn lynnoiintn'da-Qnnninrweighi inn said leaf,- an extension for saidsupportffan anchoring member connected to saidfextension .and meansl for in said anchor when theleaf is in horizontal positioning means for holding said anchor lrigidwhonthe Y l' leafisopen andmean's for vpermitting play in. the anchorwhe'ni-the bridge! is Closed. 1;

riso

6. In a device of the class specified a swinging bridge member and an oscillatory support, said support comprising an upstanding column having an extension member for stabilizing said column.

7. In a device of the class specified, a swinging bridge member and a swinging support, said support comprising a member having a movable pivot for said bridge member and having a ixed pivot substantially belou7 said movable pivot.

8. In a device of the class specified, a pivotally mounted bridge member having an oscillatable support, said support comprising a substantially vertical member having a pivot at its upper end for said bridge member, a pivot at its lovver end, and an outwardly and upwardly extending member for limiting the movement of said first mentioned pivot.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 8rd day of October, A. D., 1930.

CHARLES L. KELLER. 

